~Disclaimer: I own none of them, I'm just playing with
them, and I'll be returning them when I get through. I also stake no claim to
any episodes that I use for the Flashbacks. They belong to the writers and FFC.
I do however own Alex Wallace, his father and his secretary Connie, as well as
anyone Scott knew when he was at home with his father. I also made up a few
people in the middle of this story, you'll see why.~
~There are also a few lines that I have taken from one of my other favorite
shows, BTVS. I thought that Joss's words would fit better in this type of
subtext. I am not changing the words in any way shape or form. They will also
be returned when I'm done.~
~I've decided that if you want a song list, you're going to
have to e-mail me for it, seeing as though I can never seen to remember to put
it up with my stories.
Memories are still in Italics, with * before and
after them
This part goes out to my lil' sis, who got on
last night and completely re-wrote one of the scenes. I still love ya Britt. ~Illusia
"The eyes are the window to ones soul."
~Unknown.
Peter and Sophie watched from the sidelines, as their kids stood up together, and all headed out to the dance floor. This time, David had his arms wrapped around Daisy, who didn't seem to be complaining too much, Brittany was having too much fun with her arms securely around Scott, who kept looking over his shoulder every few minutes to look at Shelby, who was dancing with Auggie, and getting a little too cozy together again. Jessica was laughing at Ezra, who was talking more than dancing, and Juliet and Alex were he last couple on the floor. Kat had opted to let her food settle before getting on the floor, so she sat in Shelby's seat, facing the dance floor.
"These kids deserve this." Sophie laughed, as Ezra dipped Jessica in order to get a laugh out of her.
"It's been too long since these kids have been able to be normal high school seniors." Peter agreed, but something on the dance floor didn't seem right to him. Alex kept making eye contact with Brittany. "Do you think something's going on between them?" Peter asked in his usual 'I'm worried about everyone' tone.
"Between who?" Sophie turned to look at her husband. "Peter, there are ten kids out on the floor?"
"Brittany and Alex." He watched as Sophie turned and studied the group. "Scott seems a little pre-occupied out there, Brittany could be trying to make him jealous." Peter tried to rationalize for himself. It wasn't working.
"Or Alex and Britt could have talked about something, and Brittany's worried that Alex will tell someone." Sophie offered helpfully. She didn't like the thought that there were outsiders over there with her kids. The whole thought of them made her examine everything more carefully. "Or Alex is the worried one." She supplied.
"He does seem rather tense." Kat walked up to them and watched as they both looked at her in shock. "I think Alex is trying to ensure that Shelby's his, and Brittany's part of the plan." Her voice sounded older then her nineteen years. "Then again, I'm just a kid."
You could be right." Peter put an arm around Kat's shoulders, and hugged her to him. "You could be right."
It's either black or
white, that's right
We're making love or in a fight
But then it feels so good, I knew it would
You know the way to make me crazy
I want to give it to you
Shelby looked over at
Ezra and Jessica and smiled. It's been too long since she's seen her sister
this happy. Jess deserved it. Ezra turned slightly, and his gaze locked
Shelby's. "Looks like you're in a galaxy far, far away from making any
extraterrestrial travel arrangements." Shelby commented offhandedly, as she
reached out, and pulled Ezra away from Jess. Jessica took the hint, and grabbed
Auggie to dance with instead.
"You remember?" Ezra's
eyes were wide when he spoke.
"Of course." Shelby
smiled and allowed him to wrap his arms around her from behind. "It's not
everyday I kiss you." She laughed.
"So," Ezra tried to
keep his voice level as he turned her around. "Who makes you so emotional?"
"Wouldn't you like to
know." Shelby laughed again, and he remembered what was so beautiful about
Shelby.
*Shelby wandered into
the kitchen, looking for what she hoped wouldn't be Era's dead body on the
floor of the kitchen. "Ezra? Ezra?" She leaned over the counter and
watched as he stared at David's zip-lock baggie full of pills. Shelby could
only guess that they were barbs. "Guess I missed the party favors." She
said offhandedly as she moved around to look at him.
"Wanna go for a
ride?" His voice was deep, and sorrowful. He held up the bag for her to
look at.
Shelby moved closer to
him and smiled. "Man do I ever," then she turned and looked away from the
bag. "But I don't."
"Yea." Ezra agreed
slightly. He didn't know why he hadn't just taken the whole bag when he knew no
one would find him until it was too late. "I could've been buzzing Mars by now.
I don't know what stopped me. Self control is not one of my strong
points." He looked up from the bag to see Shelby's saddened beautiful face
staring at him.
"Daisy?" She
offered helpfully, the look in her eyes was just shouting 'don't do it Ezra.'
Ezra nodded in silent
conformation. "She already told me nothings going to happen between us. "
He whispered as if he were reminding himself. If felt bad to be repeating the
words that Daisy had said to him that night in the janitors shed. "Just
friends."
"They tell me its
good to have a friend."
"Then how come I
feel like the only thing she sees in him, is that he's not me?" His
gaze challenged her to tell him that wasn't true. That she had heard Daisy tell
Juliet or Kat that she secretly loved him. He shook his head at the way that
she just stood there, watching him. He wasn't sure what to do now.
"I don't think
that's true." Shelby said after a while. Then she closed her eyes, and dropped
her voice to just above a whisper, as if she was telling him some big secret.
"When Scott's mother was here she told him something that he told me. An
ancient Greek guy said it a long time ago." Shelby reached out for Ezra's hand,
and then withdrew it as she realized what she was doing. "Friends are two
people sharing one soul. Its not that often you find a good friend."
Ezra turned abruptly
and dumped the entire bag into the sink. Then he ran the water to get rid of the evidence. "And goodbye to
my extraterrestrial travel arrangements." He said as he threw the baggie
in the garbage can.
Shelby smiled and took
his hand so they could go back to the party. "Life sucks doesn't it?"
She asked him in a small voice.
Ezra nodded in
agreement. "Only during the waking hours." That's when Shelby did
something that surprised them both. She kissed him. Not a mind blowing, earth
shattering kiss, but a chaste, I understand kiss,, that made Ezra remember that
Shelby had a heart in her somewhere. "How'd you know I needed that?" He
asked as Peter Showed up and told them to get outside. He never got Shelby's
reply, and he'd always been too scared to ask after that day.*
You make me feel so emotional
I can't let go I'm so emotional
I'm sinking fast into an ocean full of you
I'm so emotional
"Penny for your thoughts?" David asked in that annoyingly sweet voice he always had around Daisy. She looked up, as if snapped from a trance and looked at him. "You okay Daze?"
"Yeah." She said after
a minute. She closed her eyes and searched her mind for a plausible excuse as
to why she's been out of it lately. "Just the excitement of tonight." She lied
straight-faced. "I'm just trying to get used to it all." She turned and looked
over at Ezra and Shelby, hoping David couldn't see what was behind her eyes.
David felt as if there
was something missing, but he didn't press it. Instead, he reached over and
pulled Jessica out of Auggie's arms. "Switch," he laughed softly, as Daisy slid
easily into Jessica's place. "So kiddo." He said to Jessica, "How are you
handling this party?"
You make me high and low, you know
I'm never sure which way you're gonna go
You're such a mystery to me
But baby hot or cold you got a hold
Of my imagination
I think you know what I mean
Scott followed David's lead and reached over to grab Shelby from Ezra. Ezra reached out and held onto Brittany, as Shelby adjusted her body in Scott's arms. "Thanks for the warning." She said sarcastically, looking up into his eyes for what seemed like the thousandth time that night.
"I
didn't think you needed one." He flashed her a smile that made her melt, and
she held onto his shoulders so she wouldn't fall over. "Problems?" He asked her
gently.
"Nothing
you need to be concerned about." She shot back. She could play his little game.
She could pretend that being in his arms had no affect on her whatsoever. She
was lying through her teeth, and they both knew it, but she could play the
game. "Why'd you give up Brittany?" She asked offhandedly.
"For
no reason you need to be concerned about." He smiled as he repeated her words.
This was a game he had missed.
You make me feel so emotional
I can't let go I'm so emotional
I'm sinking fast into an ocean full of you
I'm so emotional
It only took a second,
for Alex to trade Juliet for Brittany. "What the hell do you think you're
doing?" He asked her angrily. "I'm paying you to get between them, not
push them together."
"Relax." Brittany
placed a hand on his chest and felt the muscles bunch. She liked having that kind
of power over a guy. "I know what I'm doing." She raised her hands over her
head, brushing her hair out of her face, and turned to bump Alex with her hip.
"Before we tear them apart, we have to let them get closer together." She said
so matter-of-factly. "Shelby's gotta believe in what she and Scott once had
before she can be removed from his life."
Alex grabbed one of her
wrists and brought her closer to him. "This better work." He snapped as he
allowed her hands to work their magic on his body.
Rain is falling down on me
Suddenly the sun comes out
Sometimes north or south of love
But I'm never out
"Something's definitely wrong." Kat pointed over to where Brittany and Alex were talking. If talking was the word you could use. It looked more like Brittany was trying to reassure him of something. "I don't like the way this is going."
Sophie had gone to the
restroom, and Peter and Kat had decided to continue the conversation about how
suspicious Brittany and Alex had been acting lately. "You think Alex is trying
to break up Scott and Shelby?" Peter thought about that sentence. "Whatever
they might have?"
"And he's offered Britt
something to do if for him." Kat agreed lightly, as if it wasn't anything new
to her. "I think Alex wants Shelby for himself, despite what he may say in
front of he about 'wanting what's best." Kat threw a glance over Peter's
shoulder and smiled sweetly at Sophie as she walked back up. "But I've already
had a slice of cake." She told Peter mockingly, as if she was trying to cover
up their conversation.
You make me feel so emotional
I can't let go I'm so emotional
I'm sinking fast into an ocean full of you
I'm so emotional
Alex grabbed Shelby out of Scott's arms and pulled her to him. "When do I get to dance with you?" He asked her, pretending to pout. She giggled, and Alex threw a look at Brittany.
"Later," Shelby wiggled
out of Alex's grasp and headed back to the table to rejoin Kat.
Alex was about to say
something, when Peter stepped up onto the stage with the DJ. "May I have everyone's
attention please?" He said calmly into the microphone. After a minute everyone
turned to face him. "Can everyone have a seat for a few moments?" He watched as
everyone moved to their tables by group. He couldn't help but throw a glance at
the Cliffhanger table, where his favorite group sat staring at him. "Okay," he
said after a few minutes. "It's time to announce Senior Class Awards." The DJ
played a funky little tune, and everyone laughed, as Sophie and Roger pushed
the cart of awards out onto the stage. "We're gonna start with the obvious
choice for a Horizon High award." He held up the envelope, and half of the
class was laughing before he even read it. "Most likely to be imprisoned." He
read mockingly.
"Now we need not remind
you," Roger stepped up to the mike. "That we never said what they would be
imprisoned for." Everyone laughed again and Sophie ripped into the envelope.
"And the winners are-"
"David Ruxton of the
Cliffhangers!" Sophie shouted into the mike. The Cliffhanger table laughed as
David jumped up and headed to the stage. As he climbed the stairs, Sophie
smiled. "And also from the Cliffhangers, Shelby Merrick!"
Shelby was laughing the
hardest as she stood and made her way over to the stage. David had his award in
hand as she gave him a hug. "This is the closest you're ever getting to
famous." She said bluntly at David once she got closer to the mike. "Thank you,
and very funny guys." She pointed at the table where Daisy was wiping her eyes
from laughing so hard.
David took the mike and
flashed a smile at the photographer. "I'm the king of the world!" He shouted,
and as he spread his arms out, Shelby pushed him off of the stage. He recovered
though, saving both himself, and the plaque that he had been given. "I'm okay."
He laughed as they headed back to the table. "Beat that James Cameron." He
whispered to Ezra, holding his award.
Ezra shuttered as Daisy
placed a hand on his leg. "You will." She said softly, looking deep into his
eyes. "You will."
"Now we have Most
Likely To Be Famous." Peter held up the envelope, as Roger leaned into the mike
again.
"Once again, I'd like
to remind you that we never said what for." Roger took the envelope from Peter
and smiled. "Again with the Cliffhangers!" He shouted. "Future Dallas Cowboy,
Scott Barringer, and future Steven Spielberg Ezra Freakin-" Roger stopped
himself and smiled. "That's Friedkin, and this is the last time we allow Shelby
to stuff the ballad box." He watched as Shelby's face lit up.
"Um…thanks." Scott was
short on words, as he watched Shelby's face brighten.
"Yeah, thank all of
you, and I hope none of you mind when I make a documentary on Horizon as my
first film." Ezra descended the stage when he heard Daisy shout over the
clapping
"Only if we get to star
in it!"
"Best Smile!" Peter shouted
on the stage, and named a Ridge Runner.
At last Peter was down
to two awards. The Cliffhangers didn't think they could stand saying any more
speeches. Scott had, along with his first award, gotten most athletic,
biggest flirt, and best personality. Daisy had received best
eyes and teacher's worst nightmare. Shelby got biggest
attitude with Auggie, as well as best smile and most
likely to kill some one with Daisy. David
walked away with the other teacher's worst nightmare as
well as class clown. Auggie got class protector, for his attitude
when it came to the Cliffhanger girls, and most improved when it came to
class work. Ezra picked up teacher's pet with Juliet, and was also able
to snag easiest to talk to with Daisy. Juliet had gotten most of the
awards that you can only give to one person. Best dressed, perkiest,
and nicest were all on her list.
"The next two go
together." Peter smiled as Sophie brought over the Morp King and Queen crowns.
"Now for Cutest couple, and the announcement of Morp King and Queen." The
Cliffhangers clapped and shouted as Peter opened the envelope. Peter looked
puzzled for a moment before leaning into the mike. "Can you be considered a
couple if you've broken up?" He asked the audience, who threw him a puzzled
look. "Scott Barringer and Shelby Merrick!" He shouted excitedly, noticing that
everyone got the joke now.
"You guys didn't?"
Shelby asked Juliet and Jessica, as Scott was pulling her to her feet. "You're
all dead once I get out of these heels." Then she followed Scott to the foot of
the stage, where Sophie and Roger placed the crowns on their heads. "I can't
believe this." She whispered to Scott as the photographer took their picture.
"Take her for a spin
around the dance floor." Peter laughed as the music started. "We picked this
one out just for you two."
Everybody's got something
They had to leave behind
One regret from yesterday
That just seems to grow with time
There's no use looking back or wondering
How it could be now or might have been
"You ever have the feeling that
Peter's trying to tell us something?" Shelby looked into Scott's eyes for a
quick second, before turning her head and resting her chin on his shoulder. She
wasn't sure whom she should blame for being voted Morp Queen, with Scott as her
King. A touch of guilt hit her heart and she smiled sardonically. If she didn't
want this to happen the way it did, then why did she vote for herself and Scott
in the first place? She laughed to herself and looked over at her friends at
the table through slitted eyes.
Scott laughed slightly and
wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't think Peter's the only one
responsible for us being here." Scott turned Shelby to where they were both
facing the Cliffhanger table. "I think they're all trying to get us back to the
way we were."
Her weight shifted slightly, as
she looked up at him. His features were more defined in the hazy light. "Can't
say I blame them much." She laughed at the way he smiled down at her. "We were
happier then." Her eyes glazed slightly, and she forced herself to look away
from him. She wasn't sure why she had said that. Then again…
"Yeah," Scott agreed gently, as
if he sensed what she was thinking.
I never had a dream come true
Till the day that I found you
Even though, I pretend that I've moved on
You'll always be my baby
I've never found the words to say
You're the one I think about each day
And I know no matter where love takes me to
A part of me will always be with you
"So what exactly is
Brittany to you now?" Shelby asked as if it was normal conversation they were
having out in the middle of the dance floor.
"What's Alex to you?"
Scott countered, and Shelby nodded.
"Fair enough." She
whispered. "He's everything you're not." She started simply, not liking the
look on Scott's face. "He's safe, and predictable, and I know that he wants me
for all the wrong reasons." Her eyes softened, and she smiled up at Scott. "He
remembers me as I was, not who I'm trying to be."
"Funny how Britt
matches that same description." Scott smiled back down at her and then a simple
thought raced into his mind. "You wanna make Peter nervous?" He asked her
playfully. Shelby nodded, and Scott bent his face to hers. Then, he brushed his
lips across hers, sending chills running down her spine.
Somewhere in my memory I've lost all sense of
time
And tomorrow could never be
Cause yesterday is all that fills my mind
There's no use looking back or wondering
How it should be now or might have been
All this, I know, but still I cant find ways to
let you go
Alex readjusted himself in his seat. "I don't like this." He whispered to Brittany, who just smiled and nodded. His mind was reeling from the thought of Scott's lips on Shelby's. He stood and stormed out of the room. Unaware that Britt was hot on his heals. When he stopped right outside the room he turned to face her. "Once they get off the dance floor, make your move." He commanded gently.
"Of course." She smiled an evil smile and turned to go back into the room.
Alex grabbed her arm at the last minute and turned her to face him. "I hope you know what you're doing." He gave her a quick push into the room by her arm.
I never had a dream come true
Till the day that I found you
Even though, I pretend that I've moved on
You'll always be my baby
I've never found the words to say
You're the one I think about each day
And I know no matter where love takes me to
A part of me will always be
As she hummed along to the song, Daisy watched her best friend out on the dance floor. Shelby seemed so natural in Scott's arms. It was almost as if she was created to be in love with him. Daisy felt a slight twinge of jealousy sweep over her, and she quickly brushed it away. She wasn't supposed to be jealous of love. She wasn't supposed to want someone else had. She was the loner, and she'd always been. Closing her eyes, Daisy couldn't help but wonder if there was something out there that she was supposed to find.
Ezra watched the woman
to his left for a few minutes. He was never quite sure what Daisy was thinking.
It was possible that she was wondering the same thing he was. That somewhere in
this world, there was the right one for him. Time and time again, Ezra had
thought that Daisy was to be his match. Then something would happen, and he
would find himself face to face with the reality that all they were were good
friends.
"You wanna talk about
it?" Ezra asked Daisy quietly, after he noticed that she shut out a look of
pain in her eyes with a long blink.
"Not right now." Daisy
coughed and leaned into his shoulder.
"Oh." He said softly,
not wanting to let the moment go.
"But when I do," she
said some what cheerfully. "I'll come to you."
You'll always be the dream that fills my head
Yes, you will, say you will, you know you will,
oh baby
You'll always be the one I know I'll never forget
There's no use looking back or wondering
Because love is a strange and funny thing
No matter how I try and try I just can't say
goodbye
Scott turned Shelby around on the floorboards, and she laughed. Then she caught the way that Scott was staring at her, and she suddenly became very self-conscience. The look in his eyes said nothing about just being friends. "What are you thinking?" She asked him softly.
"I can still look at
you." His voice was barely audible, but Shelby caught onto the meaning, and
leaned into him further.
*The sun shone through the clouds, and washed its
colorful rays over the bodies of two tired Horizon students. Scott was lying
adjacent with a tree, Shelby by his side, lounging on his arm. Neither wanted
that moment to end.
"They're gonna be looking for us." Scott said
thoughtfully, as if he had every intention of getting up and heading back to
Horizon at that moment. But his body never moved.
Shelby shifted
slightly, but didn't sit up. "I don't care." Even her voice sounded exhausted.
"I'll shop wood for a year, but I'm not moving."
Scott laughed for a
second, before getting extremely serious. "I always thought, that if anybody
found out about my step mom, about what happened…" He let the sentence weaken
and then he remembered that Shelby knew what he was referring to. "I thought
that if I ever told anybody, I'd never be able to look at them ever again."
Shelby laughed and sat
up, her golden hair draping across her face and she brushed it behind her ear.
"You can look at me," she told him eagerly. "Can't you?" Her eyes were looking
for confirmation that she wasn't used to needing.
Her hair flopped in
front of her face again, and Scott brushed it out of the way. "You're
beautiful." He said softly, wanting her to believe him.
"Yeah, right." Shelby
ran a hand through her hair and came up with a fistful of leaves and dirt.
"With all this stuff in my hair." She said sarcastically.
Scott just leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips, then another. Then he deepened the kiss and pulled Shelby to him. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be able to look at her, long after this whole mess with Elaine was resolved. *
Shelby smiled as her and Scott came out of the memory at the same time. "Those were the days." She heard Scott say lightly, as if he were some old guy, remembering his lost childhood.
"Yeah," she agreed to
herself. "But the road to true love is paved with broken glass." She said
without thinking. Then she looked up at Scott.
"Huh?" He said
cautiously.
"Daisy told me that a
long time ago." She closed her eyes and remembered the day in the kitchen. "I
didn't believe her then, but I do now." She nuzzled into his arms and sighed
longingly. "I do now."
I never had a dream come true
'Till the day that I found you
Even though, I pretend that I've moved on
You'll always be my baby
I've never found the words to say
You're the one I think about each day
And I know no matter where love takes me to
A part of me will always be with you
"Scott and Shelby!" Peter's voice boomed over the speakers. "Morp King and Queen." There were more cheers, as the music slowed to almost a stop. Scott smiled over at Shelby as they faced the crowd once more. "Give them another hand." Peter was clapping so loud you could hear it through the loud speakers. "Enjoy the ball." He said quickly, before cutting the mike off.
Shelby walked over to the table and, just as she reached Alex's arms, threw once last look at Scott.
